His Word Today

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;” (Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)

The shield of the Romans soldier was large enough to cover his entire body. It was made of wood, covered with animal hide, and then bound with iron at the top and bottom.

Prior to entering battle, the soldier’s shield was dipped in water. The purpose of doing so was to soak the animal skin covering the shield. Typically, an enemies’ arrows were dipped in pitch, or tar, and then set on fire. A water soaked shield could effectively extinguish such fiery arrows, protecting the soldier from harm.

In every circumstance in our lives, believers in Christ are to personally bring their protection, or shield, against sin. This is their trust in, commitment to, dependence upon and worship of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is interesting to note that in the Old Testament, the LORD is the shield of His people (Gen. 15:1; Psalm 144:1-2).

Such faith can extinguish (σβέννυμι; sbennymi) or stop the attacks originating from the evil one, or the devil. A professor of mine once remarked that the devil’s flaming darts could very well be the searing thoughts enticing the believer to sin against God.

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “This Greek word (for shield) usually refers to the large shield (2.5 x 4.5 feet) that protected the entire body. The faith to which Paul refers is not the body of Christian doctrine (as the term is used in 4:13) but basic trust in God. The believer’s continual trust in God’s word and promise is “in all circumstances” necessary to protect him from temptations to every sort of sin. All sin comes when the victim falls to Satan’s lies and promises of pleasure, rejecting the better choice of obedience and blessing.”

What flaming darts has the evil one been attacking you with lately? Keep you shield of faith up and ready. Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria!

“And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15 (ESV)

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

The good news spoken by the Prophet Isaiah is the same good news spoken by the Apostle Paul. The good news both had in mind is the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The image both men had in mind was that of a messenger who brings good news to others. What better news is there than the good news that Jesus Christ has provided not just a way, but rather the only way sinners can be restored to fellowship with the One, True, Holy God. It is solely through Jesus’ incarnate virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death on the cross and bodily resurrection that He provides justification, redemption, adoption, propitiation, and reconciliation. All of these blessings of salvation is by God’s grace alone, through God given faith alone.

Paul calls the gospel the gospel of peace. That brings to mind Romans 5:1-2 which says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Peace (εἰρήνη; eirene) refers to tranquility and harmony between God and sinners when once there was turmoil discord. This peace is solely through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Dr. R. C. Sproul comments, “Most ancient warfare consisted of hand-to-hand combat between soldiers after long marches to the battlefield. Thus, Roman soldiers required footwear that could sustain their feet as they marched and give them solid footing in a fight. The halfboot called the caliga met these very needs. For spiritual warfare, the gospel of peace fulfills the same purposes for the soldier of Christ. The announcement that God reigns and has reconciled Himself in Jesus to believers sustains us in the long march of the Christian life. It allows us to keep going even when things are so bad that we doubt whether the Lord really is looking out for us.”

Philippians 3:11-14 says, “¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. ¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Press on, dear ones, with the sure footing of the gospel of peace. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

We will devote each Lord’s Day in 2021 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2021. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Nineteen: Of the Law of God. Part 3.

6. Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned;^a yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly;^b discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives;^c so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin;^d together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience.^e It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin;^f and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law.^g The promises of it, in like manner, show them God’s approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof;^h although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works:ⁱ so as a man’s doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one, and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law, and not under grace.^j

a. Acts 13:39; Rom 6:14; 8:1; Gal 2:16; 3:13; 4:4-5. • b. Psa 119:4-6; Rom 7:12, 22, 25; 1 Cor 7:19; Gal 5:14, 16, 18-23. • c. Rom 3:20; 7:7. • d. Rom 7:9, 14, 24; James 1:23-25. • e. Rom 7:24-25; 8:3-4; Gal 3:24. • f. Psa 119:101, 104, 128; James 2:11. • g. Ezra 9:13-14; Psa 89:30-34. • h. Lev 26:1, 10; 26:14 with 2 Cor 6:16; Psa 19:11; 37:11 with Mat 5:5; Eph 6:2-3. • i. Luke 17:10; Gal 2:16. • j. Rom 6:12, 14; Heb 12:28-29; 1 Pet 3:8-12 with Psa 34:12-16.

7. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the gospel, but do sweetly comply with it:^a the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done.^b

a. Gal 3:21. • b. Ezek 36:27; Heb 8:10 with Jer 31:33.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,” (Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)

The next piece of the believer’s armor is the breastplate of righteousness. For the ancient Roman soldier, the breastplate (θώραξ; thorax) was the armor which covered the body from the neck to the thighs. It consisted of two parts: one part covering the front and the other the back.

The breastplate consisted of a tough, sleeveless piece of leather or heavy material with animal horn or hoof pieces sewn on, covering the soldier’s full torso. It protected the soldier’s heart and other vital organs.

The Apostle Paul associates the breastplate with righteousness. The question arises as to what is the meaning of the word righteousness (δικαιοσύνη; dikaiosyne) in this particular context. Is the Apostle Paul referring to the imputed righteousness of Christ or justification (Romans 3:21-26; Philippians 3:1-9) which describes the believer’s position before God in Christ. Or is Paul referring to the believer’s practice of righteousness or sanctification (Ephesians 4-5; Colossians 3-4; I Thessalonians 4:1-12) which is the believer’s ethical righteousness before God and man. Most scholars believe it to be both.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Commentators disagree as to whether the righteousness in view here is the imputed righteousness of Christ by which we are justified (2 Cor. 5:21) or the ethical righteousness that we practice and so reveal the authenticity of our faith to the world (James 2:14–26). It may be best to see the apostle as speaking, in some sense, of both. Understanding that God has declared us righteous by faith alone encourages us to repent and keep fighting after we fall, confident that He has covered our failures to follow His command. Practicing righteousness makes us better able to resist the sins that would detract us from efficiency and effectiveness in our mission.”

A key to our understanding of the text is the phrase having put on (ἐνδύω; endyo) which means to personally dress and clothe oneself. Since the believer in Christ is justified by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Christ alone (Ephesians 1:3-2:9) the text in 6:14 must be referring to the believer’s personal, daily and ethical righteousness.

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “Because righteousness, or holiness, is such a distinctive characteristic of God himself, it is not hard to understand why that is the Christian’s chief protection against Satan and his schemes. As believers faithfully live in obedience to and communion with Jesus Christ, his own righteousness produces in them the practical, daily righteousness that becomes their spiritual breastplate. Lack of holiness, on the other hand, leaves them vulnerable to the great enemy of their souls (cf. Isa. 59:17; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Thess. 5:8).”

Believers are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. However, the evidence of the imputed righteousness of Christ is the practice of ethical righteousness by our lives. Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria!   

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…” (Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)

“Given his Jewish upbringing, Paul’s thinking is continually informed by Old Testament teaching, especially as he unpacks the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10–20. Still, Paul almost certainly has in mind as well the armor of the Roman soldiers he saw every day throughout the empire.” – Dr. R. C. Sproul

Isaiah 11:1-5 depicts the Jewish Messiah as a mighty warrior. However, in light of the cultural context of the first century Roman Empire in which the Apostle Paul lived, we will examine how the equipment of the typical Roman soldier illustrates the believer in Christ’s armor. Today we examine the belt of truth.

Paul begins his illustration with the now familiar command to stand (ἵστημι; histemi). As previously noted in Eph. 6:13, to stand means to be establish and unmovable in the truth of God while living in a world which loves lies.

The phrase having fashioned (περιζώννυμι; perizonnymi) means to personally get ready and to prepare oneself for battle. The belt of truth (ἀλήθεια; aletheia) is the believer’s readiness to learn God’s truth.  

Each Roman soldier has a leather belt. His belt supported his lower abdomen. It also gathered his tunic and held his sword. A soldier’s belt provided physical support and stability. The Word of God provides the believer much the same type of confidence. This comes from the certainty about the truthfulness of God’s Word.

Dr. Sproul comments further that, “Ancient Roman soldiers wore a leather apron to protect their thighs from the attacks of their foes, and this piece of armor is the counterpart to the “belt of truth” (Eph. 6:14). Without God’s truth we have no true support — we remain completely vulnerable and are left, effectively, with no legs to stand on. If we lose the truth of the gospel (1:13; 4:21, 24; 5:9), we have the bottom cut right out from under us, rendering us unable to withstand the assaults of false doctrine, half-truths, and other deviations from the Lord’s revelation. According to Isaiah 11:5, the Messiah wears a belt of righteousness and faithfulness. Knowing the truth of the gospel, we see that God has been faithful to His promise to declare us righteous in Christ.”

There are many who say there is no objective truth. Remain steadfastly committed to the truth of the gospel today.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:13 (ESV)

Christians wrestle, or fiercely struggle, against forces of wickedness. It is for that reason the Apostle Paul urgently commanded all believers in Ephesus to take up their spiritual armor. Believers in Christ today are under the same heavenly mandate.

Take up the whole armor of God. The phrase take up (ἀναλαμβάνω; analambano) is an aorist active imperative verb. It means that each believer in Christ is to wholeheartedly obey God’s command to carry and bring along the whole armor of God.

The phrase whole armor (πανοπλία; panoplia) is the believer’s offensive and defensive weapons of spiritual warfare. This armor originates and is solely sourced in God alone. To obediently respond to God’s command to appropriate such biblical weapons is God’s will for each believer in Christ.

The purpose of such armor, and the Christian’s application of it, is stated in the latter portion of today’s text. God’s armor enables the believer in Christ to withstand in the evil day. To withstand (ἀνθίστημι; anthistemi) means to oppose and to resist. What believers in Christ are to withstand Paul calls the evil day (πονηρός ἡμέρα; poneros hemera). The evil day refers to a time of worthlessness, immorality and wickedness.

The Apostle Paul notes that when believers in Christ take up God’s armor they will be able to withstand the evil they encounter in this world. Additionally, Paul says and having done all, to stand firm. The phrase having done all (κατεργάζομαι; katergazomai) means to be thorough and to accomplish God’s purpose.

When a believer in Christ does everything God requires of them in taking up the armor God provides, they will be able to stand firm. To sand firm (ἵστημι; histemi) means to hold fast to God’s truth and righteousness. It also means to withstand evil when it comes.

John Calvin comments, “There will be no danger which may not be successfully met by the power of God; nor will any who, with [the armor of God], fight against Satan, fail in the day of battle.”

Be strong in the Lord’s strength today as you fight the battle. Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria!

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

Having referred to the schemes of the devil (Eph. 6:11), the Apostle Paul elaborates on the spiritual war believers in Christ will encounter while living in this world.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. The word wrestle (πάλη; pale) does not refer to an entertaining show to be enjoyed by cheering spectators. Rather, the word means to fight and to struggle. To wrestle means to engage in an intense struggle, involving physical or nonphysical force against a strong opposition.

Paul goes on to say that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. This means physical or human individuals.

John Calvin writes, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood. The meaning is that our difficulties are far greater than if we had to fight with men. There we resist human strength, sword is opposed to sword, man contends with man, force is met by force, and skill by skill. But here the case is widely different. All amounts to this, that our enemies are such as no human power can withstand.”

Who, or what, exactly do believers in Christ wrestle against as they seek to honor God? The Apostle Paul provides some insightful answers.

Believers in Christ wrestle against rulers. Rulers (ἀρχή; arche) are wicked forces and supernatural powers.

Believers in Christ wrestle against authorities. Authorities (ἐξουσία; exousia)) are those who have the authority to rule. In this context, authorities are also wicked forces.

Believers in Christ wrestle against cosmic powers over this present darkness. Cosmic powers (κοσμοκράτωρ; kosmokrator) are world rulers who are endued with supernatural power. These rulers do not simply seek to rule the physical world but rather the people who inhabit the physical world. The phrase this present darkness (οὗτος σκότος; outos skotos) means the current realm of evil or the abode of evil spirits.

Fourthly, believers in Christ wrestle against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. The phrase spiritual forces (πνευματικός; pneumatikos) can refer to the spiritual forces of God who are angelically righteous and holy. However, in this context it refers to the demonic forces of the devil. This is clear by Paul’s usage of the phrase of evil (πονηρία; poneria) which means wickedness, evil and malice.

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “To wrestle is a term also used of hand-to-hand combat. Struggling or wrestling features trickery and deception, like Satan and his hosts when they attack. Coping with deceptive temptation requires truth and righteousness. The four designations describe the different strata and rankings of those demons and the evil supernatural empire in which they operate. Satan’s forces of darkness are highly structured for the most destructive purposes. Cf. Col. 2:15 and 1 Pet. 3:22.”

No wonder believers in Christ must daily put on their spiritual armor. WE must remember that all Christians are engaged in a holy war.

Soli deo Gloria!

“Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul encouraged the church to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of God’s almighty power (Eph. 6:10). How may the believer access God’s strength in order to be strong in the Lord? Paul answers that question beginning with today’s text.

Paul begins with a command to believers in Christ: Put on (ἐνδύω; endyo). It is an aorist middle imperative. It means the believer is to do everything they personally can to obediently clothe and dress themselves.

With what? With the whole armor of God. The phrase whole armor (πανοπλία; panoplia) means a complete set of instruments for offensive and defensive warfare. The phrase of God (θεός; theos) means that the armor spoken of is solely originating and sourced from God.

What exactly is the purpose of this armor of God? Paul answers this question with a purpose clause which concludes the verse. The apostle states that you may be able to stand.

The individuals in question are believers in Christ. By putting on God’s armor believers in Christ may be able (δύναμαι; dynamai) or have the ability to stand (ἵστημι; histemi) or to make a stand. Against who, or what, are believers to stand against?

The answer is against the schemes of the devil. Schemes (μεθοδεία; methodeia) are the wile, strategies and craftiness of the devil. The word devil (διάβολος; diabolos) literally means a diabolical one. He is our adversary who is wicked and a slanderer. It is he that believers in Christ are commanded to resist. We effectively resist by putting on God’s whole armor.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “The proper equipment with which to fight the Enemy is God’s armor (Eph. 6:13). This armor could be three different things. It could be the armor God supplies to His people, for He strengthens us to live for Him (Ps. 18:31–32). It could be the armor that the Lord wears to battle His foes (Isa. 59:15b–17). Or this armor could be God Himself, as Scripture uses terms such as truth and righteousness, which we wear as armor (Eph. 6:14), to name the Lord (Jer. 23:6; John 14:6). Actually, the armor of God likely encompasses all these possibilities, for they are not mutually exclusive. God supplies us with Himself in order to strengthen us against Satan. Standing in Him, we can successfully live out the implications of the gospel.”

Beginning Monday of next week, we will begin to examine each piece of armor the believer is to wear for the holy war. Have a blessed day as you fight the good fight of faith (I Timothy 6:12).

Soli deo Gloria!

^”Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10 (ESV)

The believer’s engagement in spiritual war is not an isolated doctrine within the New Testament Scriptures. The Christian’s struggle with the world, the flesh and the devil is extensively addressed not only in the four gospels, but also in the NT epistles and in the Book of Revelation.

The subject of spiritual warfare is also found in the church’s hymns and in worship songs. Here is but a sampling of some familiar titles.

Not by Might, Not by Power; The Battle Belongs to the Lord, Jamie Owens-Collins, (c) 1985, Fairhill Music;  A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Martin Luther, Frederick Hedge); There Is None Like You; Great Is Thy Faithfulness; Mighty Warrior (by Debbye Graafsma, (c) 1983 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music ); Shout to the Lord with a Voice of Triumph; Shout to the Lord!; Wounded Soldier, by Danny Daniels , (c) 1985 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing; I Walk by Faith, by Chris Falson (c) 1990, 1999, Maranatha Praise Inc.; Greater Is He That Is in Me, by Larry Wolfe, (c) 1973, Lanny Wolfe Music; Power in the Blood.

A recent worship song concerning spiritual warfare is entitled Christ is Mine Forevermore.It is by the worship artist CityAlight, from their album Only a Holy God. I encourage you to meditate today upon the following lyrics.   

Mine are days that God has numbered
I was made to walk with Him
Yet I look for worldly treasure
And forsake the King of kings

But mine is hope in my Redeemer
Though I fall, His love is sure
For Christ has paid for every failing
I am His forevermore

Mine are tears in times of sorrow
Darkness not yet understood
Through the valley I must travel
Where I see no earthly good

But mine is peace that flows from Heaven
And the strength in times of need
I know my pain will not be wasted
Christ completes his work in me

Mine are days here as a stranger
Pilgrim on a narrow way
One with Christ I will encounter
Harm and hatred for His name

But mine is armour for this battle
Strong enough to last the war
And He has said He will deliver
Safely to the golden shore

And mine are keys to Zion city
Where beside the King I walk
For there my heart has found its treasure
Christ is mine forevermore

Come rejoice now, O my soul
For His love is my reward
Fear is gone and hope is sure
Christ is mine forevermore

Have a blessed day as you engage in the holy war.

Soli deo Gloria!   

We will devote each Lord’s Day in 2021 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2021. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Nineteen: Of the Law of God. Part 2.

4. To them also, as a body politic, he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the State of that people, not obliging any other, now, further than the general equity thereof may require.^a

a. Gen 49:10 with 1 Pet 2:13-14; Exod 21 throughout; 22:1-29; Mat 5:17 with 5:38-39; 1 Cor 9:8-10.

5. The moral law doth forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof;^a and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator who gave it.^b Neither doth Christ in the gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen, this obligation.^c

a. Rom 13:8-10; Eph 6:2; 1 John 2:3-4, 7-8. • b. James 2:10-11. • c. Mat 5:17-19; Rom 3:31; James 2:8.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!